Pageant Weekend

UPDATED WITH ADDITIONAL PHOTOS & VIDEO!

OMG this was soooo much fun! Alaina met some new friends & had a blast! I don't think she realized that all the practice & work was gonna lead to a wonderful time until she got there!

Trying to figure out which way to run for fun lol!

Registration was smooth & simple! We turned in her stuffed animals & books - automatic 10% toward her overall score! Community Involvement - check!! Next stop, turning in ALL that paperwork & a couple of cool awards: Portfolio & casual wear modeling ribbon just for entering the contests! What a way to build confidence in little girls! I LOVE NAM!!!

After registration, we paid for her red carpet pics, which came out really well, then it was off to pick up her production number outfit & unpack! We ran out to grab a bite to eat then back to the hotel for the workshop! It was very helpful. Alaina seemed to think she knew everything that was discussed since she went to pageant prep in April lol BUT it was a great refresher!

The pajama party was soooo much fun! It took a lot to get my little one up on stage to dance BUT when she got up there she enjoyed herself! I even got up with her to do a couple of dances including "the twist" lol... mamas over 30 should NOT try to keep up with 4-7 year olds lol!

 Posing in the hall by the elevators before we went down to the PJ party!

Wow Friday was an extremely busy day! Up early for orientation at 8am. We learned a lot about what to expect for the rest of the pageant then the girls got awards! YAY, we love awards lol! Alaina got the Spirit of America trophy then a short break until rehearsal. We had so much fun! The girls learned their dance number for the final pageant & it is sooo cute! Now I'm sure I just said mamas over 30 should NEVER try to keep up with their baby girls lol... well, as it turns out, it's a great thing I was paying attention because we had to get up their & show our girls we could do their dance!!! SO not cute lol, but I think I got most of it right! Miss Leah is a wonderful teacher!

Spirit of America award presentations! 

Alaina's casual wear modeling competition was immediately after rehearsal; things got hectic! She went up to model her first outfit (a cute little yellow top with rose detail & a matching black rose print skirt, black leggings, yellow flip flops & an adorable black rose headband) then we had to rush to the dressing room & quickly change into the second outfit (a pink Polo dress with a green belt, pink sandals & a very sassy black/pink/green fedora)! It was a marathon race after that as well because the girls had to quickly change into their production number outfits for their group photo which came out soooo cute! Lastly, we have the formal wear & personal introduction rehearsal! And finally... a break!

 

  

 

 

After a busy afternoon and our little break, it was time for the red carpet photos! They are amazing - love those! Immediately following photos was the formal wear competition! I think Daddy had fun as well! It gave him joy to walk with his baby girl *proud* lol! It was very beautiful - I think I got a little teary! My princess looked like an angel :-) She kept her smile, was very poised when doing her circle turn & she did glance at the judges a few times! Her personal introduction, I must admit, was on point also! She spoke loudly, clearly, kept her smile & LOOKED AT THE JUDGES! I was soooo happy! She even made sure to do "pretty feet"!!! After it was all over, she received an award for advertising trophy for outstanding program participation! Time for the pool (I promised because she did so well) & off to shower & go to bed!

 

 

 Red carpet pics!

 

Formal wear!

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

Personal Introduction!

Ok so today is the big day - Saturday, final pageant. First up is personal interviews... I've been up since about 5am... I couldn't sleep so I just prayed & stared at the ceiling & walls lol... Finally hubby wakes up & we talk a bit then it's time to wake up the princess only to find out we have a little problem - she's not feeling well :( she's got a slight fever, she's coughing like crazy & her chest hurts! Through it all, she's a little trooper because she gets up, eats breakfast while getting dressed & going over her interview questions/skills. She says she can do it so we go off to get some meds from the gift shop in the lobby. Afterward, we drop her off with the other little girls for interviews while I go into the "mommy waiting room" to get all the ins & outs from Miss Joy - as sweet as she is gorgeous... Dad goes off to chat with another dad he met! As the girls come back to moms, we cheer them on for their determination to go into that room like "big girls" and do a great job! We quickly change for final rehearsals... the girls practice their superstar pose & dance number then guess who has to go up & show off their dance skills? Nope, not the mamas this time... it's the dads, uncles, brothers & grandpas lol! Yep that's right, Jalon (big brother) & dad have to go up with the other guys to perform lol! OMG hilarious is the ONLY word I can come up with to describe it! Preston (other big brother) missed out - darn!!! After dads make a complete comedy show of themselves, it's off to check out, grab some lunch & back to the hotel for the final show!

This was probably the most hectic time of all - waiting in the hall near the ballroom, curling her hair while people are frantically running all over the place! Preston was a placeholder in line with the family's tickets while everyone else sat around until 3:30. Time to take Alaina into the dressing room with all her stuff. I was so nervous - I didn't wanna leave her but I had to! She was dressed, ready for the opening number which was adorable! IMMEDIATELY after the performance, before the kids could get off the stage, mamas had to do a marathon race to the dressing room to get them changed into their formal wear! I was soooo out of breath lol but I made it, got my pumpkin changed, gave her a huge hug & kiss & told her how proud I was of her for being so brave & working so hard! I almost cried when I left her because it would be the last time I saw her before she walked out on that stage for her superstar pose in front of hundreds of people!

More pics & videos to come - just gotta figure out why they won't play anymore :-(